Nursing Excellence

Asking Questions…Looking for Answers

Quality patient care is central to the role of a nurse. But what does it take to provide quality patient care? Quality requires exploring new ideas, techniques, technology and systems. Each day we provide nursing care to our patients, we are providing care interventions based on evidence-based practice…research. As a nurse we are accountable to establish, manage and evaluate the practice of nursing. Imagine what it would be like if we practiced nursing as we did 100 years ago? For generations our nursing colleagues have asked questions, explored alternatives, and evaluated their practice to ensure the best quality of care.

The research process begins with asking the question “Why?” Why do we do what we do in the way in which we do it? Are we doing it the “best way”? Are we providing, or more importantly establishing, “best practice”?

Florence Nightingale was a nurse committed to asking the question “why” and seeking answers. Her research set the stage for the practice of nursing today. Recently the Executive Nursing Council adopted an evidence-based practice model called The Ace Star Model (which you will learn more about in this edition of Nursing Excellence). This model will guide us in the steps required to ensure we are providing evidence-based care.

Our professional practice includes providing care supported by evidence-based practices as well as sharing our best practices through posters, presentations and publications. Whether through primary research or utilizing evidence-based practice, we are the drivers of the nursing practice.

We are making a difference in the lives of patients and families. Let’s keep asking questions, developing our practice, implementing new evidence and generating “best practice” for the care of our precious children.